He Knows How We Were Made

 

 

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits – who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.

 

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

 

As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

 

The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word. Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will. Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul.

 

Psalm 103:1-22

 

We often take God’s blessing for granted until they are taken from us. Then we recognize how important even the most common gifts of God really are. The psalmist knew he couldn’t remember all of God’s benefits to him. He was distressed that he might forget them all, so he took his sluggish soul in hand, and urged it to consider at least some of the good gifts God gave to him. Because God’s goodness is as constant as the sun, we are in danger of forgetting what He showers on us each day. If we count our blessings one by one, we will never get finished. Try to jot down a list of 10 to 20 gifts God gives us each day, and something will happen to your heart.  If you want to be rich, count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

 

Our Daily BreadJuly 28, 2005